Botevgrad History Museum

Botevgrad History Museum opens its first exposition in 1937. The history museum is located at Saransk Square in the centre of Botevgrad, Bulgaria.

History

The museum work in the region of Botevgrad has deep roots and traditions. Two of the earliest researchers of Botevgrad's historical past were priest Georgi Popdimitrov from Skravena village, and the long-term teacher from Trudovets village, Georgi Popivanov.

On January 10, 1927, a publication in the local newspaper "Orhanie News" announced the establishment of an archaeological museum as a part of the "Ivan Vazov" town library. The first museum collection is opened for the public in 1937 by the director of the local high school, Asen Stefanov.^[1]

In 1950, already enriched and extended, the collection is moved to the local culture centre (chitalishte) "Hristo Botev 1884", and two years later the collection is pronounced state museum, and is provided with a separate building.^[1]

On May 24, 1959, the museum is opened with an inauguration ceremony. In 1970, second exhibition of the museum is opened. In 1985, the museum is extended with an art collection and the museum opens an art gallery. From 1988 to 2010, the museum and the art gallery are located in a separate building next to the Botevgrad Clock Tower, the symbol of the town.

On July 1, 2010, starts the reconstruction of the building of the Law Court in Botevgrad. Less than an year later, on May 3, 2011, the building is re-opened and since then it has been hosting the Botevgrad History Museum.^[1]

Museum collection

The museum offers exhibition areas, as well a conference hall equipped for presentations, art exhibitions, concerts, discussions, public lectures and celebrations. The museum develops collection, research, education and popularization activities, and takes part in the organization of events from the cultural calendar of Botevgrad Municipality.

As of 2018, the museum collection contains more than 15 thousand original units, including: documents, original photographs, personal belongings, armament, old printed literature, numismatic and heraldic artifacts, and art works. These are distributed in three departments: Archaeology, History of Bulgarian lands in 15 to 20 century, and Art and History of 20 century. Affiliate to the Museum is the cloister school in the village of Bozhenitsa, Botevgrad Municipality.^[1]